Improvement in rotary engines



E. FRANK..

Rotary-Engines.

Patented Jan. 12, 18H.

him-153,597.

wel;

ATE

ERNEST FRANK, oF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.'r

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters P. tent'No. 158,69*?.dated January 12,1875; application led I March 6, 1874.

To Vall whom it 11u/ty concern:

Be it known that I,-ERNRST FRANK, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have i invented certain improvements upon the pat ent granted to Samuel Gibson, August l2, 1873,

for certain improvements in rotary engines,

cially adapted. to engines. capalileof a baclr ward and forward movement. Other features not forming a part of my invention are herein set forth, the explanation thereof facilitating a correct understanding of the invention hereinafter speciically claimed. Y

In the further description of my invention which follows due reference must be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a vertical section, Fig. 2 a central transverse section, and Fig. 3 an enlarged view, of a por- '.tion of the invention.

Similarv letters of referenceindicate similar parts in all the views.

A is the steam-cylinder. B and G are, respectively, the fixed-and removable cylinder-` heads.' D is the steam-chest, fastened toa projecting face cast upon the cylinder, and

Within which is'the reversing slide-valve a. op-

erated by means of a stem projecting through a Wall ofthe chest. E E' are the steam-ports leadingfrom 'the chestl) to the interior ofthe cylinder.'y The location of. the upper ends of the ports issuctrwithgelation to the lengthsv of the valve and chest tmteitheecan, by the movement of the valve a, be brought into communication with the interior of the cylinder.

F F' are exhaust-ports leading from the cylinder to the space formed in the lower side of the reversevalve a. By means of this space one l of the exhaust-ports is continually in eommunica'tion with the outlet-pipe G. H is the cylindrically-formed piston fastened to and supported by the main shaft b. which revolves in p resenting the'periphery `of the-.piston and the inner circumference of the cylinder being eccentric With each other, and coming in contact at the upper side. The piston is slotted for the receptionof the valves I I', which iit therein as nearly steam-tight as is practicable.l fThe valves are connected by the rod-d, Whichrests at either end in Isockets in the valves, the socket in valve I being sutiiciently large to` allow of the introduction of a collar formed on the rod. The valves I'I are not equidistanty during an entire revolution ot' the piston,a'nd this variation in distance prevents -Ytlie rod kbeing constructed so as to bear against both valves.

To compensate for this irregularity, I `place a spiral spring in valve' I of such length'and degreeof tension as is necessary at all times to place the required strain upon the valves. Tile valves I I', although constructed alikel as regards the steam-passages therein, when placed p in their respective grooves and steam admitted to them through the portsE E', influence the piston in opposite directions.' rIhe valves are provided with tvvo channels, e e', running longitudinally of them, the one e extending entirely to the inner end of the valve, and that e being closed at the innerend to prevent the admission of steam from the spacesf existing between the ends of the valves and the piston. Apertures g lead from the channels e to steamport E', but have no communication with the port E, steam issuing from the valves to the interior of the cylinder through the openings It. Access from the steam-port E to the valves is through the spaces f and channels e, and thence to the cylinder by means of the openings h. The adjustable fahel'ore/ alluded to as added to thwl/vesare represented by J1: and shownin/Fig. 1. K is a bearing-piece inserted in a recess in the upper portion ofthe cylinder, adjusted by means of set-screws, to

compensate for wear at its point of contact with the piston. L is the piston-foliower,which is held stationary within the cylinder and bears against the face of the piston, forming a steamtight joint., Leakage from the cylinder is pre- Prion.

, passes down the port E and into the spacef,

which is in direct communication through the channel e and opening h, with the interior of the cylinder above the valve, and the piston is caused to revolve inthe direction of the arrow, the valve at the same time being forced against the cylinder, forming a steam-tight joint.

It will be understood that in an engine constructed as described the steam, although operating to force out the valve, is not depended upon solely for this office, as the rod d with the spiral spring wilLkeep the valves in contact with the cylinder. Steam has no access to the the exhaust-passage F.

Y The engine is reversed by moving thereversevalve a and exposing the port E, thus admitting steam to the upper face of thevalve l.

That portion of the'port E which is curved or circular is struck from such a center as will enable the said circular part of the port to be opposite, throughout its entire length, to a portion of the opening g in the valve I during its revolution; and, in reversing the engine, the

steam continues to ow into the port E until the valve I reaches the end thereof. It is, of course, understood that before the port E can be used as a channel for steam in reversing the engine, the steam-port E must be closed, the valve a being moved so as to cover it and vexpose the port E.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

'lhe valves ,I I', constructed with their respective ports, as described, and mounted up 011 a common' rod, d, of variable length, in combination with the adjustable faces k, having arcs coincident with the interior of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

11i testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name iu the city of Baltimore this 3d day of March, 1874.

ERNEST FRANK.

Witnesses:

WM. T. HOWARD, r JNO. T. MADDox. 

